Micro CT scanners incorporating internal gain charge-coupled devices
AssigneeRadiation Monitoring Devices, Inc.
InventorsVivek V. Nagarkar, Sameer V. Tipnis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides internal gain charge coupled devices (CCD) and CT scanners that incorporate an internal gain CCD. A combined positron emission tomography and CT scanner is also provided.
Claims39
A high speed computed tomography (CT) scanner assembly comprising an x-ray source, a microcolumnar CsI(Tl) scintillation screen, an optical coupling path, and an internal gain charge-coupled device (CCD) detector having an internal gain of at least 40, the high speed CT scanner assembly comprising an image acquisition rate of at least 30 frames per second, the assembly configured for high speed dynamic and functional imaging of a volume of a subject with only a single x-ray source, the imaging comprising generating an image having a spatial resolution with a value of 100 μm or smaller.
A combined positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) scanner assembly, the assembly comprising:
- a PET scanner comprising opposed annihilation gamma-ray detectors operable in a time-coincidence mode and an x-ray attenuating material disposed on each gamma-ray detector to reduce scattered x-ray flux on the gamma-ray detectors;
- a high speed CT scanner comprising an x-ray source, a scintillation screen, an optical coupling path, and an internal gain charge-coupled device (CCD) having an internal gain of at least 40, the high speed CT scanner comprising an image acquisition rate of at least 30 frames per second, the high speed CT scanner configured for high speed dynamic and functional imaging of a volume of a subject with only a single x-ray source, the imaging comprising generating an image having a spatial resolution with a value of 100 μm or smaller;
- and
- a gantry supporting the PET scanner and the high speed CT scanner, the assembly configured for simultaneous scanning of PET and CT data from the volume of the subject, wherein positioning of the PET scanner and the high speed CT scanner on the gantry is co-planar and azimuthally displaced from each other.
A high speed microcomputed tomography (microCT) scanner assembly, comprising:
- an x-ray source;
- a microcolumnar CsI(Tl) scintillation screen;
- an optical coupling path comprising a fast lens;
- an internal gain charge-coupled device (CCD) detector having an internal gain of at least 40;
- and
- a computer coupled to the detector, the computer comprising instructions that, when executed by the computer, will cause the assembly to perform high speed dynamic and functional imaging of a volume of a subject with only a single x-ray source, the imaging comprising:
- scanning the subject using the x-ray source, the scanning comprising an image acquisition rate of at least 30 frames per second;
- and
- generating a high resolution image of the scanned subject, the image having a spatial resolution with a value of 100 μm or smaller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.